Following is a guest post by Linda Merrill an interior designer and writer.
Tiny homes can be warm and cozy and are coming back into vogue for reasons both economic and environmental. But they do come with some major challenges in terms of storage space. Here’s a list of 18 brilliant storage ideas that have a big impact on a tiny space:
- The under bed area is a great spot to store extra sheets, blankets and pillows or even off-season clothing. Rolling under bed bins are available, making access that much easier.
- Wire shelves of all shapes and sizes can be put to use in a myriad of ways. Industrial metal shelving is trendy and useful for storage in a kitchen, basement or garage. Add casters to the shelves for easy mobility.
- In most cases, the space under a staircase is wasted space. Custom built drawers installed behind the risers will yield an enormous amount of storage space for clothes, paperwork or craft supplies.
- Basket storage is certainly not new or unique and there’s a reason for that. Baskets are attractive, highly functional and flexible in use. Store dishtowels and oven mitts in the kitchen or socks and scarves in the bedroom. Vintage or new, baskets offer style and function in traditional and modern settings.
- Old luggage and travel trunks make for great duel purpose pieces. A stacked grouping of luggage can serve as a great looking coffee or side table, while holding the holiday decorations throughout the year.
- A metal rod and S-hooks are the makings of a truly useful storage piece. Create a decorative and functional pot rack from copper plumbers pipe hung from the ceiling. Piping can be installed under the kitchen cabinets to hang smaller items or on the back of a closet door for jewelry or men’s ties.
- Peg-board is one of the most versatile storage pieces for small to mid-sized items. Julia Child was famous for her peg-board pot rack where each pot and pan was outlined on the board so they could be put back always in the same spot for easy access. This idea could be replicated for smaller kitchen or craft items or in the garage for rakes and shovels.
- An old armoire can be retrofitted with shelving to make a great place for storing craft items, linens or flat fold clothing.
- Repurpose an old medicine cabinet for use as a spice rack or baking supplies cabinet in the kitchen. Its relatively small size may fit perfectly above a shelf or table.
- A wooden, lidded box can make for a great footstool with the added benefit of hidden storage. Simply upholster the outside of the box, add some furniture-grade bun feet for a custom piece that’s attractive and serves not one but two functions.
- Clear plastic bins with secure lids are an organizers dream. The secure lid will keep moisture and dirt out and the clear sides will allow you to view the contents without having to pull it off a shelf and open it up. Great for stacking in out of the way spots like attics, basements and garages.
- The Shakers were nothing if not practical and organized. Their classic wall pegs were simple pegged dowels attached to a 1 x 4 board and mounted on a wall. These peg racks can be installed inside a closet or along a wall, at a low level for children or at a high level for towels or long coats. The Shakers even hung their iconic ladder back chairs on the peg racks to store extra chairs or to get them out of the way for cleaning.
- Fabric is a great asset when finding storage in unusual spaces. Cover an open side table with a tailored fabric cloth and store books underneath. A floor length tablecloth on the dining table will hide all sorts of goodies underneath.
- A Lazy-Susan in a corner cabinet will greatly increase storage in hard to reach kitchen cabinets. Great for small pots, pans and lids, or food and spices.
- Hanging shoe organizers aren’t for shoes alone. They make use of the unused space behind or on the front of a closet door. And, in addition to shoes, they can store men’s ties, scarves, mittens and hats, craft items or small office supplies like staples or scotch tape.
- Storage ottomans are the workhorses of decorative storage. They provide comfortable seating and reclining, a surface for books or trays, plus offer accessible storage for throw blankets, books or games.
- In a truly small space, one of the most enduring storage options is a Murphy bed. Just pop it back up into the wall and you’ve got much needed floor space.
- Soffit space under stairs or ceiling can offer a great way to sneak in storage. Open up the front of the soffit (retaining the structural elements), finish off the inside and you will have a great place to store books or decorative items.
- Of course, if you feel like you’re all out of space or a couple of your possessions won’t fit anywhere convenient, you can always consider renting a storage unit to keep your stuff secure. A great resource to check out is www.findstoragefast.com.
Linda Merrill writes for Networx.com, and is a professional interior designer. Check out her design services blog.